Policy Update - Week of June 7, 2010

SAF ACTIONS

ATTENTION: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
SAF is looking for volunteers to staff our booth at the 2010 National Boy Scout Jamboree July 26th - August 4th. For more information on the 2010 National Scout Jamboree please visit: http://www.bsajamboree.org/Registration.aspx. If you are interested in volunteering please send an email to policyi@safnet.org. There will be more details to follow.

In the Administration

Obama Administration Extends Roadless Rule for another Year

SustainableBusiness.com New, Published June 1st

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Friday announced a one-year renewal of protections that will give him sole authority to approve or disapprove logging or road projects in America's undisturbed national forests.

Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced today that the Forest Service will offer two fee waiver weekends during the summer of 2010, in addition to other annual fee waiver events at standard amenity fee sites. The first fee waiver weekend will be June 5-6. These fee waivers will be offered in cooperation with other federal agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA). To read more of this article link to: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2010/releases/06/waiver.shtml

Last Week in Congress

June 4th - The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests held a field hearing to receive testimony on S. 2895, to restore forest landscapes, protect old growth forests, and manage national forests in the eastside forests of the State of Oregon, and for other purposes.

The hearing was held in the Barnes Room of the Deschutes Public Services Center Building, 1300 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon.

This Week in Congress

June 9th - The House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research will hold a public hearing to review the implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill energy title. The hearing will be held in 1300 Longworth House Office Building at 10:00 a.m.

National News

Forest Bill Draft Cuts Logging Mandate, but Tester won't Support

The Missoulian, Published June 4th by Bob Chaney

A "discussion draft" of Tester's S. 1470 legislation started circulating last week among critics of the bill. This version did not have the requirement to log at least 10,000 acres a year in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Kootenai national forests, or the one-year limitation on U.S. Forest Service environmental reviews. It also deleted language from the wilderness sections that would have allowed military helicopter training and off-road vehicle use for livestock herding.

Forest Service to Start Study of Massive Southern California Open Space Protection Plan

The Pasadena Star-News, Published June 4th by Dan Adendschein

U.S. Forest Service officials announced Friday the beginning of a five-year study of an open space that stretches from the Santa Monica range to the San Gabriel Mountains.

The Rim of the Valley Corridor includes private and public land from the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susanna Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, Verdugo Mountains and San Rafael Hills.

The Forest Service wants to bring the lands under federal protection and would study the possibilities of trail development, land acquisition and preservation of wildlife corridors that connect different sections of open space in the area. To read more of this article link to: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_15231347#ixzz0qBPU3AEz

In the States: Oregon, Massachusetts

Wyden Talks Timber

The Bulletin, Published June 5th by Kate Ramsayer

At a field hearing of the Senate Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee held in Bend Friday afternoon, Sen. Ron Wyden D-Ore., asked an official with the Boise Cascade timber company whether he would have ever thought it possible to bring together representatives from the timber industry and Oregon's environmental community. To read more of this article, click here.

Biomass Plants' Fate up for Vote

The Berkshire Eagle, Published June 7th by Scott Stafford

Two renewable energy projects in the Berkshires are being threatened by the potential for a statewide ballot initiative aimed at preventing a biomass plant in Russell.

One of the local projects is an effort to grow oil-rich algae, harvest the oil and use it to fuel 100 percent of the power needs on a local farm. The other is a biofuel plant being planned to provide energy for Crane & Co.

The ballot initiative, orchestrated by StopSpewingCarbon, a state group based in Cambridge, began in reaction to plans for a wood-burning biomass plant proposed at a former paper mill in Russell.

Wildfire Update

Wildfires Likely to Flare in U.S. Hot Spots

USA Today, Published June 2nd by William M. Welch

Parts of the desert Southwest, Alaska, northern Great Lakes and Gulf Coast are facing above-normal chances of significant wildfires this month, a federal agency says.

Additional Information:

The SAF National Office serves as the voice of professional forestry through its active role in several forestry, natural resources, and agricultural groups and coalitions…

25 x '25 (www.25x25.org) - SAF is a proud member of 25 x '25 and currently sits on its Sustainability Working Group. The goal of 25 x '25 is to have 25% of our energy needs being fulfilled by renewable resources from our nation's farms, ranches, forests, and other lands by 2025.

Disclaimer: The Society of American Foresters does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the news items and/or links to additional information that appear in the Policy Update.

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